1920-1940 was the golden age of boxing

Want to look at the nationalities of those from welter upwards during that era?

 

1934 welterweights :

Jimmy McLarnin, Champion

1. Kid Azteca
2. Bep van Klaveren
3. Harry Dublinsky
4. Ceferino Garcia
5. Eddie (Kid) Wolfe
6. Bobby Pacho
7. Tony Falco
8. Willard Brown
9. Werther Arcelli
10. Andy Callahan

 

I haven't disputed that American boxing once dominated the world championships and the world rankings.
My question is what constitutes TODAY as "the golden age" of boxing, globally ?
I don't think the fact that America no longer dominates the titles means boxing is enjoying its golden age on a global scale.
I don't think there's a correlation.

 

So, it all comes down to how you define what a "golden age" is ?
What makes the present age the golden age of boxing ?

My view is that the 1920-1940 period was probably the golden age, give or take 5 or 10 years each side of that period. Not just in America. I believe there were more fights and more fighters, not just in the US. Before the days of television, when people would have to go out to find entertainment, boxing was one of those entertainments that took place often and widespread.

 

My apologies if that's what what you feel. But that's not my motive. Have a great day nevertheless.

 

You're right, of course... the fact that America no longer almost monopolizes the world titles, does not in itself mean, that today is now the "golden age" in the rest of the world.

But think about it: In the 1920-1940 period (and several decades after), the rest of the world was completely in the dark! Not just as far as world titles are concerned... but only in the USA was it possible to actually watch the best (with few exceptions) boxers perform. With no TV, the rest of the world could only read about these fights/fighters.

My dad took an interest (handed down from his father) in boxing when just a young kid, and one of his first memories was Max Baer taking the world crown from Carnera. Though only 11 at the time, he kept a small scrapbook, and on one of the very first pages there is this Danish newspaper report... describing how Baer had toyed with the huge Italian, scoring multiple knockdowns on his way to victory. The pictures in his mind of this slaughter made such an indelible impression, that until his untimely death in 1969, he was convinced that Baer was the greatest heavyweight who had ever lived!

Now my dad had never actually seen Baer box! Nor had he ever caught even the smallest glimpse of truly great boxers from that time.

As for myself, I was as much in the dark as he was! By 1969 I had been interested in boxing for over 15 years - but my only window to the boxing world had been the numerous magazines I subscribed to back then. It wasn't until the 70's, where a few of the old fights became available on super-8 millimeter film (remember those "Ring Classics" adds in the old Ring magazines?), that I caught my first glimpse of Sugar Ray Robinson (his fight with LaMotta was the first film I ordered home from the US), Louis, Pep, etc.

Today is a totally different story. I no longer buy films - nor do I subscribe to a single boxing magazine. Gone are the days, where I waited for the latest "Ring" to arrive - so I could catch up on months old results!

No, today I'm able to watch the biggest fights from around the world in the comfort of my living room - as they take place! This past Saturday, I saw the Brook fight from England - after which I stayed up the whole night to catch the Lomachenko card from New York. And on YouTube I'am of course now able to watch just about all the great fights that were ever filmed.

So for someone like me, who for years was completely "blind"... this is my "Golden Age"! And there must be lots of non-American fight fans, who have gone through the same experience.

 

I don't think that there was ever any shortage of boxers in Europe, South America, Mexico, or Australia.

What distorted the picture, was the fact that purses were much bigger in America, combined with the sheer depth of the American talent pool.

There were additional biases within the American system.

For example if New York had been an independent country, it would have produced more champions than most.